Published Paper Details:

Piping of soil refers to the movement of soil particles caused by seepage flow, which poses a significant challenge in geotechnical engineering. This phenomenon can compromise the strength, stability, and integrity of earth structures such as dams, embankments, and their foundations. Conventional methods to enhance soil stability often rely on synthetic materials, which are expensive and environmentally harmful. This study explores an alternative approach to reduce seepage velocity and improve soil's resistance to piping by incorporating coir. A one-dimensional piping test was conducted to compare the seepage velocity and piping resistance of pure sand, sand mixed with different proportions of coir under various hydraulic head conditions. The preliminary findings reveal that adding coir significantly enhances the soil's resistance to piping. Distributing coir throughout the soil mass increases isotropic strength and minimizes weak zone formation. Due to its high lignin content 46%, it is stronger than other natural materials such as coir or cotton. Coir geotextiles have been used in various slope stabilization projects and soil erosion control.